Stofferson

Had Warwick's all my playing life, most recently a thumb 4 for the past few years, thin neck, 38mm nut I think. So tiny compared to p basses, well the top end at 44mm, so maybe I try one?

I used to get terrible fretting hand cramps when I used to play repetitive lines at the nut end of my old 5 string thumb bass (not to mention shoulder/back pain). Although the neck was the chunkiest thing I’ve ever played, in hindsight, the ergonomics were dreadful. The massive neck and tiny body with a short top horn not only was a recipe for neck dive (that meant holding the weight in my left hand and pushing down with my right forearm), but also put the first fret about a mile away from me. IIRC, the string spacing was a little tight at the nut end too.

A decent P type bass that balances properly should help alleviate the problem (it worked me with my Attitude and Squier 50s P).  Interestingly, I also don’t have any issues with my G&L Tribute JB-2 with a narrower nut than a P, but it does has a chunkier neck than most Jazz basses. I can’t get on with thin neck profiles at all.

I’ve come to realise that nut position and neck profile is more important than string spacing!

Thanks Greg,

I think that's were I'm at. Although my thumb isn't ergonomically as bad as a 5 no neck dive etc, the neck is thin both ways and I have large hands and I do fast runs and dig hard, going to try some basses with chunkier necks. I've been looking at the Schecter model t, I don't really get in with fenders maybe that will change, just need a good shop to go try some out